Switching device



April 6 1926. 1,579,237

H. W. ONEILL SWITCHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1922 Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,579,237 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. ONEILL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

Application filed October 30, 1922. Serial No. 597,765.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. ONEILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switching Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concisc, and exact description.

This invention relates to switching devices and more particularly to circuit controlling devices responsive to both alternating current and direct current.

In employing direct currents as the transmission agent in signaling over line circuits possessing high reactance, it is well known that distortion of impulses takes place, and

' as the rate or signaling speed is increased the impulses soon become mutilated to the extent thateither false signals will result or entire failure of translation may obtain at a receiving station or at a repeating point. Therefore, with direct currents dependable operation may, in general, be had only when the signaling speed is relatively low. On the other hand, it is a phenomenon of alternating currents that little or no distortion of signaling impulses will be had under conditions where direct current impulses may prove entirely inadequate. In communica tion Work, particularly with regard to telephone circuits, it is necessary to avoid the use of derived or bridged paths of low impedance on the main conductors of a circuit in order that transmission losses will be reduced to a minimum. As well understood, the joint impedance of two reactive paths in parallel, falls approximately in the ratio of 1 to 4 as compared with a single path, therefore, advantage will lie with a system in which the number of bridged paths may be a minimum, while the impedance of each path will be high.

To the end that the foregoing conditions may be met, the present invention contemplates a relay unit of universal type relative to control by direct currents, alternating currents, or-combinations of such currents in so-called superposed form. In this device, the control coil or winding presents a single 0 path of high impedance when joined in bridge on the main conductors of a telephone circuit, from which direct currents corresponding with certain slow speed signaling effects may energize a magnetic circuit to cause an associated armature to eifect consystems wherein magnetic devices of this nature are subjected not only to direct current and alternating current but also to superimposed currents caused to flow by the manipulation of suitable sending devices.

' The invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which shows a schematic view of the relay structure and a simple circuit arrangement wherein such relay has particular use.

The relay comprises a permanent magnet and a soft iron frame 51 which serves as a magnetic path for the flux set up by a winding 52 in magnetizing a reed armature 14 having a loose circuit controlling element 22 insulatively mounted thereon. The circuit controlling element 22 may be of any of the types disclosed in a copending application of Henry W. ONeill, Serial No. 558,491, filed May 4, 1922, and comprises a sealed tubular shaped receptacle 53, preferably of glass, having leading-in terminals 54, 54 to which the terminals of any local .circuit may be connected. A loosely suspended inertia metallic member 55 is contalned in the receptacle 53 and serves as a contacting means for the leading-in terminals 54, 54. The member 55 may be a rod provided with a cavity at each end to provide contacting surfaces and a support for the member itself.

When the reed 14 is at rest, the terminals 54, 54 are electrically continuous. When the reed is vibrated at a predetermined rate in response to alternating current, the contacts will be agitated to lsuch an extent as to break the electrical continuity of the terminals 54, 54. I

The reed armature 14 is resiliently mount ed on the base portion of the core 51 and forms a conducting link in the electrical circuit disclosed. This armature has reduced to the operation of the circuit shown in the drawing.

The relay 10 is shown bridged across a pair of line conductors 11 and 12 which may constitute a telephone line. Bridged vacross the same line is a line relay 13 which is adapted to be energized upon the initial actuation of relay 10 and thereafter to follow the vibrations of the reed armature 14 which is caused to vibrate by impulses sent out by the dial switch 15.

Assuming the dial switch 15 to be unoperated, the key 16 is closed in order to. seize the switching apparatus associated with line relay 13, whereupon a circuit is established for relay 10 extending from the positive pole battery 17 line conductor 11, winding of rela 10, line conductor 12, to the negative po e of battery 17. Relay 10 thereupon energizes and attracts its armature 14 closing the contacts 20, thereupon establishing a circuit for line relay 13 which may be traced from grounded battery, right-hand winding of relay 13, conductor 18, impedance coil 19, stationary conducting terminal 30, through the stop 56, contact 20, armature 14, conductor 21 through the circuit controlling element 22, conductors 23 and 24, and thence to ground through the lefthand winding of relay 13. Relay 13 thereupon energizes and attracts its armature to control the operation of any device such as a stepping switch which may be associated therewith.

The dial 15 which is associated with the alternating current supply 25 is now operated. The functioning of such dials is well known to those skilled in the art and no detailed description thereof is deemed neces sar here, but it may be said that when the dia finger plate is rotated from normal to an identified notch and then released, the

dial mechanism returns to normal under the action of a spring, and in so doing, actuates a pair of contact springs 31 tointermittently supply current from alternating current source 25 in accordance with the number dialed. Assuming the number 9 has been dialed, nine current impulses will be sent out through the winding of relay 10, causing the reed 14 to vibrate (the contact 20 remaining closed all the while). For each vibration of the reed the energizingcircuit for relay 13 is interrupted at the contacts of the circuit controlling element 22 so that the. armature of relay 13 oscillates in accordance with the impulses sent out by the dial 15. Should this armature control the operation of a stepping switch the switch would be advanced nine steps in accordance with the manipulation of the dial 15.

The impedance coil 19 is included in the element 22.

' The inertia of the armature 14 is relatively great and although it may readily respond to direct current effects with sufficient amplitude to change its position with respect to the stops56, 56, the relatively high frequency currents, although adequate to set up vibrations whereby the inertia member 55 may be sufliciently accelerated to control the circuit therethro-ugh, these high frequency currents are not, however, capableof effecting an amplitude of armature 14 to cause it to change position with respect to the .stops.

In the structure of this relay, maximum efficiency is obtained with respect to the control of the armature, whether'under control of alternating current or direct current, since the magnetic stucture, as a whole, is shared alike by the fluxes produced by both currents.

What is claimed is:

1. In a relay structure, an operating winding, an armature therefor, a plurality of contacts associated with said armature, one of said contacts being operated upon application of direct current to said winding, and another contact being operated upon application of alternating current to said winding.

2. In a relay structure, an operating winding, an armature therefor, normally made contacts associated with said armature, and other contacts associated with said armature, said last contacts being made upon application of direct current to said winding, and said first contacts being intermittently broken when alternating current is applied to said winding.

' 3. In a relay structure, an operating winding responsive to superimposed currents of different characteristics, an armature therefor, a circuit controlling element mounted on said armature, and a contact, said contact adapted to be operated upon application of one current to said winding, and said circuit controlling element adapted to be operated upon the superimposition of a second current on said winding, said contact being maintained operated during the operation of said circuit controlling element.

4. In a switching device, an operating winding, an armature therefor forming a part of an external electrical circuit, and means associated with said armature for completing the aforesaid electrical circuit upon application of direct current to said operating winding, and for intermittently tact points assoeiated with said armature opening said circuit upon application of and adapted to be operated responsive to 10 alternating current to said winding. the energization of said electromagnet by 5. In a relay, a permanent magnet, an direct current.

5 electromagnet, a reed armature, a loose eon- In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe tact device mounted on said armature and my name this 24th day of October A. D. responsive to the energization of said elec- 1922. tromagnet by alternating current, and con- HENRY W. ONEILL. 

